In October 1927, he was persuaded and encouraged to accept the position of Scoutmaster of the Duncannon Boy Scout Troop 64 as it was without leadership and activities for a period of six months. He accepted this challenge only until a full time Scoutmaster could be secured. This is the temporary position that “Drummy” maintained for nearly forty-two years. The boys in the troop began visiting “Drummy” in the evening, two at a time, asking him to lead them. Since half of them were in the Sunday School class he taught, it was hard to say no. When his work load eased up after the fall harvest season, he agreed to become Scoutmaster of Troop 64 – temporarily.

The Boy Scout Troop of Duncannon accepted a special project for its community in 1932, during the George Washington Bi-Centennial Memorial. Under the leadership of Mr. Dromgold, who headed the committee on the Memorial Celebration, the Scouts planted 1050 pine seedlings in the spring and 19 pin oak trees along Broadway Avenue on November 5, 1932. 

1935 “Drummy” prepared several scouts of the county to attend the very first National Jamboree. Unfortunately, the Jamboree was canceled due to a polio outbreak and the troop was unable to attend the anticipated event.  Several of the Scouts purchased new uniforms for the event, which was indicative of their excitement of looking forward to the event.

In 1938 Mr. Dromgold escorted three Scouts to Gettysburg to serve as escorts to aged veterans of the Civil War during the last reunion of the Blue and Gray.

Throughout the War Effort, “Drummy” spearheaded the scrap metal and paper drives of the community and is recognized as the founder of the Duncannon Boy Scout Recycling Program. He was the Chairman of the Duncannon Salvage Committee, a position he served in until the committee was dissolved in August 1946. Mr. Dromgold was award the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State Council of Defense’s Certificate “Services rendered in Civilian Defense during years of war with Germany and Japan by W. L. Dromgold are gratefully acknowledged and this certificate will attest patriotic duty splendidly performed.” Although the Salvage Committee was dissolved, Mr. Dromgold and the Scouts continued to collect paper and old rags, scrap metal and aluminum as an effort to raise money.  Mr. Dromgold continued to work at the Troop's Recycling Center well into his 90's.

In 1945, the Silver Beaver, instituted in 1931 and is the highest award which an individual can receive from a Scouting Council, was conferred upon “Drummy,” at the Penn Harris Hotel in Harrisburg by the Keystone Area Council. At that time the Council selected only one person per year to receive this award.

Misfortune befell “Drummy” in September 1946, while driving his oil truck over the Sterrett’s Gap Mountain, he was involved in a horrific accident as a result of losing all braking power on his vehicle. “Drummy” was severely burned and injured as a result of the toppling and exploding truck and was hospitalized in Carlisle where he remained in a critical condition for many weeks. He was home just one month and then was admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia for further surgery. During his month at home he found himself back in the swing of scouting, as he at the time organized the first meeting which got the Cub Scout Organization underway in Duncannon, with Harry A. "Pete" Boyer as the first Cubmaster, October 6, 1947.

After enduring much involved surgeries and a hospitalization stay of 14 months, he returned home never to leave Duncannon for any mentionable length of time again. He was given a desk position with the Atlantic Refining Company and he continued in his past footsteps as being a very active citizen in Duncannon.

In November 1959 at the annual Perry County Scouter's Dinner, Scoutmaster Dromgold was awarded the Certificate of the Order of Merit. The Order of Merit was an "expression of commendation and appreciation of outstanding service to Boyhood, for his unselfish service, for his ideals, his leadership and his example, all in the interest of youth and their training for worthy citizenship."

Mr. Dromgold retired from the Atlantic Refining Company after forty-three years and was the guest of honor at a dinner at the roost Restaurant Banquet Hall in Camp Hill, Saturday evening, September 12, 1964, given by the former employees of the Company.   Along with several well wished of his former associates in the company, he was presented with a wrist watch and compass.  A feature of the evening was the showing of pictures oh his activities in the year''s encampment at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, taken by Assistant Scoutmaster Robert Brinton, Sr.

During the Troop's annual weeklong camp at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation in July 1965, Scoutmaster Dromgold received special recognition during the evening campfire.  Nr. George Anderson, 1965 Camp Director presented "Drummy" with a special neckerchief inscribed for 37 years as Scoutmaster and 35 years as a staff member of camp Hidden Valley.

In September 1965, Mr. Dromgold was certified and appointed Rifle Instructor by the National Rifle Association.  He had to pass a series of tests and served a prescribed period of time in training activities before receiving certification. Afterwards he was certified to conduct local classes in firearms, operation, safe gun-handling, and techniques of shooting on the target range and in the field.

Upon his retirement from the Atlantic Refining Company, he had found full employment being “handy man” for all of Duncannon. One could find “Drummy” painting a friend’s house, being custodian and chief engineer of maintenance at the Otterbein Church, picking cherries from the highest tree, taking his wife everywhere imaginable, going out on ambulance calls any hour of the day or night, substituting as mail carrier for the local post office, taking boy scouts camping, serving on many kinds of special committees, caring for his garden and sharing his produce with many friends and neighbors, winning awards for his special roses.

He was much more than a Scoutmaster to many of his Scouts.  During the winter he would serve as Sledmaster for the neighborhood.  Closing off streets and posting safety guards, the town youth and young at heart would sled down the hill on Cherry Street and in front of the school.  At 9 p.m., Mr. Dromgold would call an end to the fun for the evening, send everyone home and open up the streets.  He opened his home to his Scouts and his neighbors.  He would host and entertain for Scouts leaving the area, receiving special achievements, and even whenever he thought they needed something special. Throughout World War II he maintained regular correspondence with many of his former scouts and nightly found himself writing a letter to one of "his boys." He was one that was fully involved in his community and greatly cared for his fellow man and the youth of America.

In 1969 "Drummy" stepped down as the “temporary” Scoutmaster after 42 years. He became Scoutmaster at the age of 28 and continued in that position until he was 70 years old. Although he was no longer Scoutmaster, “Drummy” continued to serve and be involved with the troop in one fashion or another up until his death on December 4th, 1999 at the age of 100.

Many members of Troop 64 in other decades were present, including nine who obtained the rank of Eagle under Scoutmaster Dromgold. Besides Smith and Snyder, these included Thayer and Hafner Sieg, Harry Boyer, Sr. and Harry Boyer, Jr., Fred Lauster, Jr., Robert Brinton, Jr. and Charles Hayes.  Other guests were drawn from a wide circle of friends in Scouting.  Dr. John G. Berrier, a former resident of the community, then President of Lehigh Community College in Allentown, was among these.

Others on the program included his pastor, the Rev. David A. Houseal, who gave the invocation and benediction; Scouts of Troop 64 who conducted the opening ceremony and Charles Hayes who ended the program with the sounding of taps.

The occasion was chairmanned by Mrs. Harriett Magee and Fred Lauster, Jr., along with a host of volunteers from a wide number of organizations in the town.  Mrs. Magee did an excellent job and also prepared a biography of Mr. Dromgold that was given to all in attendance.

Duncannon Record, May 1989
Happy Birthday Poem by Mrs. L. W. Bell
on Drummy’s 90th Birthday

To “Drummy”
You may not be poetic,
But I tell you now my friend,
That your beauty is in your actions,
Not in words scribbled by pen.

Through the Boy Scouts you have built
A horde of sturdy men
Who serve both town and country
By giving help to others when
They have reached the age of manhood
And need arises, or a crisis fall,
Knowing that the teacher’s standing by
To encourage and supervise it all.
You have whacked the stubborn bushes,
Trimmed out many a sprawling tree.
Guided water across the cellar
Where it didn’t go, you see.
You have performed your church duties,
As varied as such duties can be.
Millions of hours you have spent
With only the Master above to see.
Happy Birthday, Super Boy Scout,
Your ninetieth, and may it be
Such as to inspire you
To live to be one-hundred-three.
– Mrs. L. W. Bell.

"Drummy" was one of the busiest, most energetic and happiest men in the community fulfilling duties such as: being a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School superintendent at the Otterbein Church for 22 years, Borough Council member for 25 years and past president of the council, chairman of the Tri-County United Fund for two years, camp director of the Perry County Christian Endeavor for three years, member of the Board of Trustees of the Otterbein Church for 18 years, choir member of the same church for 45 years, delegate to the Susquehanna Conference from the same church for five years, Office for the Aging Advisory Council, served as president for eight years, first aider for the community since 1931, ambulance driver for the community for five years, and he maintained membership in the Shermanata Grange, Duncannon Fire company, Knights of Pythias Lodge, Harrisburg Rose Society, and the Duncannon Golden Age Club.

At the age of 80 "Drummy" became EMT certified and was the oldest ambulance driver in the state; at the age of 83 he served as the Duncannon Halloween Parade Marshal; at the age of 88 he was the oldest EMT in the state; at the age of 92, he hiked to the top of Peter’s Mountain with the Scout troop to service the flag and flagpole; at the age of 95 became the oldest white-water rafter on the Arthabasco River in the Canadian Rockies; at the age of 100 had been active in Boy Scouts for 72 years.

Under Scoutmaster Dromgold’s supervision, more than 400 boys of the Duncannon Community have participated in the Scouting Program, fourteen Eagle Scouting Awards have been earned, and six boys of the Troop were quite fortunate to have the privilege of traveling to the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico for additional scouting education.

Special Thank-you to Mrs. Harriett Magee and Scouter Duane Hammaker for their historical input.

“Drummy’s” American lineage can be traced on his paternal side to his great great grandfather, Thomas Dromgold. Thomas was born in County Louth, near Dublin, Ireland, where his father was a merchant, mill owner and farmer. Thomas emigrated to America from Warren Point, North Ireland, arriving at New Castle, Delaware July 22, 1801. Traveling mostly by foot to the Chesapeake Bay, he continued his journey along the Susquehanna River and until he reached Millerstown, Pa. He removed from Millerstown to Donally’s Mills and then to a farm near Ickesburg, Perry County, Pa. He married Elizabeth Donnally of Donally’s Mills. The union brought three sons and a daughter, namely: John, Edward, Manassas, and Susanna. At the age of fifty-five, on January 5, 1830 at the Court of Common Pleas in New Bloomfield, Thomas became a naturalized citizen. He remained on his farm until his death March 8, 1841; his wife, Elizabeth (Donnally) died in her seventy-fourth year on September 28, 1860. Both are interred in the Old Eshcol Cemetery in Saville Township.

John Hench, also called Johannis Hange, the maternal great great great great grandfather was among the early Germans to emigrate to America to escape the ravages of war. A blacksmith by trade, Johannis left Württemberg and landed at Philadelphia on the ship "Lydia," September 20, 1743.  After a time he returned to Württemberg and was married to Chistina Schneider.  He returned to America, landing at Philadelphia, September 2, 1749, on the ship "Chesterfield."  He settled in Vincent Township, Chester County, Pa., removed to Pikeland Township in 1753, and purchased land.  To John and Christina (Schneider) Hench, eight children were born: The sons were Peter, Henry, John, Jacob and George; the daughters, Maria Elizabeth, Christina and Betsy or Elizabeth.  Two of their sons, Peter, a fifer and drummer and Henry, enlisted on a war vessel in the war of the Revolution, in 1774.  They were afterward captured and died of neglect and starvation on a prison ship at New York, and were buried under a mound in Trinity Churchyard, Manhattan, New York.  Christina died in the year 1790 and is buried at Saint Peters Lutheran Churchyard in Chester Springs, Chester County.  Johannis died in July 1801 and is buried in the Lower Tuscarora Church Cemetery, Juniata County.

The W. L. "Drummy" Dromgold Achievement award was first started in 2001 to honor William L. Dromgold.  The Boy Scout or Scouter is selected by the W. L. "Drummy" Dromgold Boy Scout Achievement Award Committee.  Selection is based on the committee's decision after review of all the applicants and based on the Boy Scout or Scouter who best exemplifies Scouting values, principles, beliefs and tenets that Mr. Dromgold upheld in his everyday life.  The selected recipient receives a cash award to be determined by the committee at the time of selection and is presented during the annual recognition ceremony sponsored by the awardees high school.

The Boy Scout or Scouter must reside within the boundaries of the Susquenita School District or be a registered Boy Scout or Scouter with a Boy Scout Troop that is located within the boundaries of the Susquenita School District.

The Boy Scout or Scouter must presently be matriculating in his senior year of education.

W. L. Dromgold Achievement Award Application (Click Here)